After working with a client on a big data project (creating a big data service within their enterprise private cloud), I got intrigued by big data and swam up stream from it to re-engage with the Internet of Things (IOT) in a more active fashion.  One tangent of this is the Industrial Internet, smart machines that can send data and receive messages to increase their efficiency or to perform the work at hand.  For those not familiar this video from GE Software for their Predix Platform is a great overview of what is meant by the Industrial Internet.

So this morning, I was intrigued when I saw an article in my morning newsfeed that told a story about the future of work. Gideon Lichfield perfectly blends futurist and science fiction writer to paint us a picture of a potential future where all this IOT and Industrial Internet innovation is taking us. When all the sensors have been deployed, robots automating all mundane tasks, and algorithms written all that is left for some of the human tech workers is to react to when the system says there is a problem…also known as do what the automation/robots can’t do (at least not yet).

And yet the core human trait of questioning and wanting more still exists.  And how will we reconcile that core need with this potential future that we create?

I found this an interesting (if dark) view of our not too distant future.  I just hope that the worker in the story doesn’t end up being one of my kids. And the irony wasn’t lost on me that I used Pocket’s new Listen (text to speech) feature to read this article (to me) while I got ready this morning…